Press for assembling shells.



F. LEMING.

PRESS FOR ASSEMBLING SHELLS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, l9| 8.

Patented Apr. 29, 1919 45 q Fig. sis a detail view of the. cam.

FRANK LEMING, OF HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

FFTC

PRESS FOB ASSEMBLING SHELLS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Ln'MINo, a citi- --zen of the United States,residing at Hingham, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts,have'invented a-certain new and useful Improvement in Presses for Assem-'bling- Shells, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

I 'monly .called ,shells the last or finishing 'operation'consists inforcing the pro ectile In the manufacture of ammunition combullet intothe casing. As these two pieces fit together very closely it is adifficult op- "so far as I am aware ithas always been done eration andrequires considerable time, and

Jbyhand, the workman taking the two pieces, fitting them together anddriving the bullet into the casing by means of a hand press. I

My invention provides a machine by which '-the bullet may be forced intothe casing quickly, and without'any other movement onthe part of theworkmanthan the simple placing of. the two parts together and puttingthem on the machine. By my improved device I am enabled to perform theopera,-

:tion very quickly, the workman being able to do aminimum of about sixtyin a minute, -whereas by the old method he could do only o about onehundred and fifty in an hour. or

- I about twelve hundred in an eight hour day.

.The invention will be fully understood front the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings,- and the novelfeatures thereof are pointed out and clearly defined in theclaims at theclose of this specification.

parts 0 t In the drawings, Figure 1 isa view of the f a shell, namelythe bullet and cas- Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a machine "for'assemblingthe parts of the shell shown in Fig. 1,. embodying my.invention.

, Fig. 3 is asection taken on line 33 of\ Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, at l and 2 retov A is a base plate, which maybe attached to. the floor or table, or other convenient support. B is arevolving drum or head r0 tatably niountedon a central shaft E. The

' top plate or head D,.whicli is stationary is fixed on thecentral shaftE and is supported by a'plurality of. posts or supports 1, the exactnumber being immaterial.

The base plate A has a circular track 3 on which'is removably mounted bymeans of screws 4, a cam 5 of hard metal, which also forms a part of thetrack 3. The lower face of the drum B is provided with one clement 6 ofa ball bearing'which cooperates with the other element 7 which ismounted on the base plate A. I

In'the drum B there are formed a plu rality of circular openings G,whichI have shown as six in number, and in practice I have found this tobe the her. In the six-openings are fitted long cylindrical plungers H,which are provided at their lower ends with rollers 8 by which they areenabled .to run along the track 3' which is placed on the base plate Adirectly beneath the openings in the drum B. The rods or plunger-s H areprovided with keys 9 which are seated in keyways in the drum B in orderto keep the rollers 8 always in proper alinement with the track 3. Therods H are freely movable in the openings'G so that when they reach theportion of the track on which the cam 5 is mounted they may slide orpush up through the top of the drum, as will be later described. Theupper surfaces of the plungcrs H are normally flush with the top of thedrum, the rollers resting on the track 3. The amount which the rods Hwill rise above the top-of the drum will vary with the height of the cam5 and theheight of the cam will be gov erned by the size of the shellwhich the workman is assembling. If the workman desires to assemble ashell of larger caliber, he simply puts on acain of the proper size bymeans of the screws 4.

referable num- I 10' of hollow construction on which are fitted holders-11 for the shells. The shells are placed in these holders for theoperation of pressing in the bullet. The holders may be of any preferredform, but in the drawings I have shown them as consisting of a springmetal clamp, semi-circular in cross section to conform to the roundedshape of the cas ing of the shell. The casing and bullet fit within thisclamp which is held during the revolution of the drum and may be easilyremoved. These holders are freely movable in a vertical directionandmove with the shell during the pressing operation.

order to connect the holders 11 with the drum each holder is formed witha finger 19 .which is connected with the side of the holder toward thedrum being slightly oifset therefrom and then extending verticallyupward as shown in Fig. 2 and the drum- 10 has secured to one sidethereof a projection 2-0 formed with a vertical guide slot therein inwhich the finger1-9 is loosely engaged. This projection 20 is shown inthe drawings as being connected with the drum 10. by means ofa screwthreaded shank portion which is. screwed into a hole in the side of thedrum 10.. The lever end of theholder isformed with a projection 21 whichwhen' the v holder is in its lowermost position as shown in the lefthand side of Fig. 2, engages with the slot 22 in the lower drum B. Thebase of the holder 20 is of a little larger diameter than the diameterof the plunger socket and when in its lowermost position the holder willrest upon the rim of the plunger socket in the drum B. I 1

Mounted fast on the drum 10 is a plate12 1 which has holes correspondingin number with the holes G in the drum B and regisments in place.

as indicated at 16 and 1' 7, or by any other convenient means. I v

The machine is runmng constantly, and the operator standing in front ofthe machine simply puts together the two parts of the shell, that is thecasing 2 and the bullet 1, and places them within the holder 11, on topof one of the 'plunger rods H in the drum B.

The revolving drum carries it, around, and when the rod H reaches thecam 5 in its travel it. rises' carrying the shell up with it, thusforcing the bullet. firmly against the abutment 13 which acts as ayielding stop and the continued upward movementof the rod carrying thecasing presses the bullet into the casing;

' -When the rotation of the drum hascar ried the plunger-1nd past-thehigh point'of the cam the plunger will descend again to its. normalposition on the level of the track, its descent, being facilitated bytheexpansion of the spring 18. Theoperator simply hasto remove the finishedshell as it reaches him and replace it with another to be presm asdescribed.

\ W hile I have shown my invention as em bodied in a machine for forcinga bullet into a casing, it is obvious that it is applicable to othermachines for similar operations. WhatjI claim is- 1. A machine forautomatically forcing a.

bullet intora casing of a shell having a movable carrier provlded with aplurality of movable plunger-s, a plurality of casing and bullet holdersmounted on the carrier, and means whereby each plunger forces a casinginto engagement with a bullet each time a plunger reachesa predeterminedpoint in its travel with the carrier.

2. A machine for assembling a casing and a bullet to form a shell,saidmachine having a movable holder to hold the'casing and the bullet inalinement with each other, a mov able plunger which engages the lowerend of the holder and caslng, means for moving the plunger and therebythe holder "and casing and bullet in a lineal direction, and an abutment with which the bullet is brought into engagement by the linealmovement of the holder and casing to thereby press the bullet into thecasing. 3. A machine for automatically assemblinga casing and. a bulletto form a shell,

said machine having a rotary carrier formed with a hole therein, aplunger rod movablein said hole, one end of said plunger forming H aseat for thecasing of a shell, a holder to hold a casing and bullet inaxial alinement with each other, a. yielding abutment above" eachholder, means for rotating said carrier. and means which during therotation of the carrier actuate said plunger longitudinally to press thebullet against the abutment and force the casing and bullet intoassembled relation to each other. i 4

L A machine for assembling a casing and a bullet to form a shell, saidmachine having a rotary. member formed with a vertical hole therein,means for rotating said rotary memher, a plunger mounted-in said holeand vertically movable thergin, the plunger being carried by said rotarymember during its rotation, a track beneath said rotary member seated,the upperjend of said plunger forms to hold the casin and bullet inaxial alineon which the lower end of said plunger is.

' ing a seat for the casing of a shell, a holder ment with each 0t er,anabutment above the.

holder, means whereby when the plunger reaches acertain point in; its,travel on the will be given a vertical movement, whereby the casingvmounted thereon will be given'an j ,axial move'ment and press the bulletagainst said abutment and thereby force the casing and bullet intoassembled relation to each other.-

5. A machine for assembling a casing and a bullet to form a shell saidmachine having in combination a rotary member having a track, during.the rotation of itscarrier, it; 5

ecause 7 vertical hole therein, means for rotating said rotary member, aplunger mounted in said hole and vertically movable therein, the

, shell, a holder to hold the casing and bullet in axial alinement witheach other, a yielding abutment in alinement with the bullet, meanswhereby when the plunger reaches a certain point in its travel over thetrack during the rotation of the carrier the plunger will be given a.vertical movement and thereby move the casing to press the pullet intoengagement with the abutment and force the bid let into the casing.

6. A machine for assembling a. casing and a bullet to form a shell, saidmachine comprising a rotary member having a. plurality of vertical holestherein, means for rotating said member continuously, a plunger mountedin each of said holes and vertically movable therein, the said rotarymember forming a carrier for the plungers, a track beneath said rotarymember on which the 'lower end of each plunger rests and on which itrides during the rotation of the said carrier, the upper end of eachplunger forming a seat for the casing member of a shell, a holder tohold the casing in axial relation to the bullet during said rotation,means where- 'by when the plunger reaches a predetermined point in itstravel on the track the plunger will be given an upward movement topress the casing and bullet into assembled relation to each other, anabutment for the upperend of the bullet during the pressing operationand means whereby 1n the contmued rotation of the carrier the plungerwill be retracted and carry the assembled casing and bullet to aposit-ion to be removed.

7. A machine for assembling a casing and a bullet to form a shell, saidmachine comprising a rotary frame, a plunger mounted in said frame andvertically slidabletherein,

the upper end forming a seat for the casing part of the shell, a holderfor a. casing and bullet, means for rotating the frameand means wherebyat a predetermined point in the rotation of the frame the plunger willbe given a vertical movement in a direction to force the casing and thebullet into assembled relation to each other.

. 8. A machine for assembling a casing and a bullet to form a shell,said machine comprising a rotary frame, a plunger mounted in said frameand vertically slidable therein,

the upper end forming a seat for the casing part of the shell, a holderfor a casing and bullet, means for rotating the frame, means whereby ata predetermined point in the rotation of the frame the plunger will beg1 vcu a vertical movement in a direction to force the casing and thebullet into assembled relation to each other, and means whereby in thefurther movement of the frame the plunger is retracted.

9. A machine for assembling a casing and a bullet to form a. shell, saidmachine comprising a rotary head having a. plurality of plungersvertically slidable therein, the upper end of each plunger forming aseat for the casing member of a shell, means for rotating said head onits axis, a circular track beneath the said head on which the lower endsof the plungers ride, the upper end of each plunger forming a seat for abullet, a plurality of holders mounted to rotate with the said head,each holder being positioned to hold a casing and a bullet in axialalinement with each other above one of the pluncomprising a rotary headhaving a plurality of plungers vertically slidable therein, the upperend of each plunger forcing a seat for the casing member of a shell,means for rotating said head on its axis, a circular track beneath thesaid head on which the lower ends of the plungers ride, the upper end ofeach plunger forming a seat for a bullet, a plurality of holders mountedto rotate with, the said head, each holder being positioned to hold acasing and a bullet in axial alinement with each other above one of theplungers during its rotation, a cam formation in the traclr which whenthe plunger rides over the cam will cause the plunger to more verticallyupward, and then down again, the plunger in its upward movement pressinginto assembled relation the casing seated thereon and the aliucd bullet,and a spring seated stop above the bullet with whichthe bullet is causedto engage when the shell is forced into engagement with the bullet.

11. Mechanism for automatically forcing a bullet into a casing to form ashell, said mechanism consisting of a movable carrier having a pluralityof vertically slidable plungers mounted therein, the upper end ofoachplunger forming-a seat for a casing of a shell, a plurality ofholders moving with said carrier, each holder being positioned to hold acasing and bullet in axial alincinent with one of the pluugers, anabutment above the plunger and means whereby at'a predetermined point inthe movement of the car- .rier one of the pluugers will be moved in aplunger-s mounted therein, the upper end of each plunger forming aseatfor acasing of a shell, a plurality of holders moving with said carrier,each holder being positioned to hold a casing and a bullet in axialalinement with one of the plungers, an abutment above the plunger, meanswhereby at a predetermined point in the movement of the. carrier one ofthe plungers will be moved in a direction to press the bullet in thecasing seated thereon into engagement with the abutment alinedtherewith, and means whereby the said bullet with its casing areseparated from engagement with the abutment in the continued movement ofthe carrier.

13. A machine 'for assembling a casing and a bullet to form a shellcomprising a holder for a casing and bullet, an abutment for the outerend of the bullet, aplunger on which the lower end of the casing isseated, and means for automatically moving said plunger and the casingholder in a direction to press the bullet against the abutment andthereby force the bullet into the casing.

14. A machine for assembling a casing and a bulletfor a shell, saidmachine having in combination a carrier rotatable on its axis and formedwith a plurality of plunger openings therein, a plurality of plungersvertically slidable in said openings, a plurality of yielding pressermembers mounted in alinement with said plungers, the upper end of eachplunger forming a seat for the casing member of a shell, means forrotating said oarrier and carrying with it-said plu'ngers and pressermembers, and means whereby whena plungerreaches a certain point in itscirculan-path of movement with the rotating carrier it will be alsomoved longitudinally upward carrying the'casing seated thereon towardone of the presser members.

' 15. A machine for pressing together ele ments of a munition shellhaving mechanism for holding two of the elements in axial relation toeach other, means for pr ssing one of said elements into engagemen withthe other, means for causing said. holder and said presser to travel inan endless path, means for causing the presser to become operative at acertain point in the path of travel, and means for retracting thepresser at a certain point after it hasbeen operative.

16.,A machine for pressing together elements of a munition shellcomprising a car rier having a plurality of mechanisms for holding twoof the elements in axial relation to each other, mechanism for p "essingsaid two elements together into as t 'bled relation, means for movingthe carrier so as to cause the said holder and pressing mechanisms totravel in an endless path, and means for bringing the presser member andthe said two elements into operative act-ion at a predetermined point intheir path of travel.

17. A machine for pressing together elements of a munition shellcomprising a carrier having a plurality of mechanisms for holding two ofthe elements in axial relation to each other, mechanism for pressingsaid two elements together into assembledrelation, means for moving thecarrier so as to cause the said holder and pressing mecha- I nisms totravel in an endless path; means for bringing the presser member and thesaid two elements into operativeaction at a predetermined point intheir"path of travel,

and means for causing the presser mechanisrn to be moved out ofengagement with the assembled elements at a point in their travel afterthey have been ressed together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

FRANK LEMING.

